There have been some super cool things that have happened for Asian Americans in the past few weeks – let’s start off with the biggest – Marriage Equality!

TFP is very, very, very happy she has lived to see Marriage Equality – and she thanks the Supreme Court, who did the right thing, even if not everyone in the Court was particularly happy about it.

This is a fun time to be a person with liberal thoughts and social concerns – right, Y’all

Passing Marriage Equality benefits the whole country, and guess what – if you do not have LGBT friends in your life, it will not affect you at all, and also…Congratulations to all whose marriages were validated by this decision, and she looks forward to all the marriages that are to come.

Also in the news, and of personal interest to TFP because her extended circle includes the Bailars, is the emergence of Schuyler Bailar as the first Transgendered Swimmer to swim for Harvard’s Men’s Team.

TFP extends the warmest of wishes to Schuyler as he starts his newest journey, and as always, is delighted to know this incredible Family. #HapasRule

DANCE BREAK!

Thus we are done with the Political and the Social news – and now on to Entertainment, which is NOT, for once, completely bleak.

FRESH OFF THE BOAT was renewed for a second season on ABC, which is history making. Yes, we will have a second season of the Huang Clan as they navigate the tricky streets of Orlando.

More exciting news…the trailer of the new DR. KEN show on ABC has just dropped – and it is funny!

TFP is very happy to see…wait for it…a secondshow about APIs hit the Network. Bravo ABC!

We have FRESH OFF THE BOAT, and now DR.KEN – proving yes, Asian Americans are funny folks, and that there is an audience for these stories.

Take a Look:

Did anyone notice the Katy Perry song “Eye of the Tiger” on the trailer?

Funny cuz it’s a play on the whole “Tiger Parent” thing- hey, if she can use ‘our’ stuff, we can use hers.

Finally, in some theatrical news…there is a new play being developed by writer, Daniel York over in England called “The Forgotten of the Forgotten” that is on the fast track to a full production.

Daniel has been a vibrant and staunch advocate for BAME Actors in the UK. As a Equity Union Representative and as an Individual Multi-talent he has helped push forward the #ActForChange movement which is has made the British Entertainment Industry aware, for the very first time on a country-wide level, how the disparities in representation on television and in films only add to discord and racial tensions.

This is a great movement, because it started with Actors but it has grown bigger than they ever thought and should it continue to have the influence TFP believes it will, it will effectively change the British entertainment landscape.

Now, with Producer Gemma Lloyd, the hardworking Mr. York is in the final stages for a play that he has been working on about the Chinese Labor Corps in World War 1.

This is a fascinating subject, one he has put tremendous time and effort into researching, and which was put up in a workshop format by The Bush Theater in London.

What is most exciting to TFP about this project is that it is one of the unsung stories of Asians in the world, not just in Asia, and how their participation helped shape the world we live in today. This project is in full development. TFP could not be more excited to hear about Mr. York’s version – it was an idea that originated with him, and as such, will be as unique and special as he is.

TFP asks all the BAME Actors and Artistic Directors in the UK to support this very special project by purchasing a ticket to any future presented performances. Mr. York clearly is changing the theatrical landscape over there by bringing this subject to the foreground, providing a new voice and a new story for British East Asians to tell. He is the living embodiment of someone who lives a ‘life in theater‘, and to have such a visible contributing member is a good thing for all of us.

There you go – just a few “good things” that have happened in the past week for Asian Americans – let’s keep it going!

The Fairy Princess and all of us know that a terrible thing happened in South Carolina. She is not going to mention the name of the domestic terrorist who committed this hate crime, because she feels that part of the reason this sociopath would do this terrible thing is because he wanted to be famous.

She would like, however to extend her sympathies and prayers to the victims of this crime and their families – both their immediate families and their Congregational Family.

She did want to address one part of the ‘manifesto’ he wrote about why he did what he did -about Asians and racism, and then she will not mention anything about this terrorist personally, she will only ever talk about the Victims of this tragedy – however in a manifesto he wrote – the terrorist shared his thoughts on East Asians and TFP did have some thoughts.

This is his quote:

East Asians

I have great respent for the East Asian races. Even if we were to go extinct they could carry something on. They are by nature very racist and could be great allies of the White race. I am not opposed at all to allies with the Northeast Asian races.

Yes, he spelled respect incorrectly.

However, to his point – are East Asians racist?

Of course they are. Everyone is racist.

Everyone. Even if you are Liberal, even if you are Conservative. No matter what your skin tone.

Those that say they are not are part of the problem.

We do not live in a post racial society. We live in a society where people divide and judge based on skin color.

This is wrong.

Flat out, it’s wrong.

We have to talk about racism and we have to acknowledge that it is there – and that countless murders have occurred because of it. Throughout history the one things humans have become really good at is establishing an non-realistic sense of superiority based on religion and skin tone, and slaughtering anyone else who disagrees.

There is NO racial superiority anywhere, Folks – that is the truth.

There is only circumstances under which one is born that lead to success or failure, and everyone judges that their own way. Some say it is based on salary earned, others in personal or artistic satisfaction, or the amount of children one has, or financial security, or home ownership, athletic prowess – and in all these things, success is garnered by personal hard work that began in childhood.

Some people have a childhood filled with plenty, some with nothing. Some have a childhood filled with abuse. Some have a childhood that lacks compassion, or trust. Some children have been forced to become soldiers. Some children have been raped. Some children have access to clean water and education, and many more do not. Quite a lot of people in this world have quite a lot to overcome to gain anything close to what the world views as ‘success’ – and yet still, there are small miracles of accomplishment every day.

Learning to read. Feeding oneself and ones’ family. Starting a micro-business. Smiling. Saving an animal from a shelter. Stopping abuse. Showing kindness. Being generous of spirit even though you are exhausted from the process of living. Defining wealth in the number of friends and family, no matter what the finances are…this is a miracle too.

These things are all accomplishments. Race can and does play a part in every single one of them. Race can influence our access, it can deny our growth as people. None of us are immune or impervious to things that we are taught, as children, about race.

As a parent, TFP is trying to show her child, her Asian heritaged child, that one should acknowledge everyone. One should be kind. One should treat others as they expect to be treated. Mostly, as a parent, TFP hopes to teach her child that race SHOULD NOT play a part in how he lives his life – in his friendships, in his loves, in his work environment, in his world. To deal with people as individuals, and not as part of a group that is to be ignored or welcomed based on appearance.

This is what she is attempting – only time will tell if she will succeed.

But she would ask ALL parents, regardless of race, gender, and regardless of who they love, to join her in this. To try. To talk to their kids about racism, even if they are confident it is not practiced in their own home or amongst their personal relationships.

You still have to guide them. You still have to talk to them about racism.

We cannot deny racism. It exists.

Everyone has it, like a terrible DNA in our bloodstreams – even if you think you do not have it – you DO.

We can choose to combat it every day. We can try to not pass this dreaded fear of others along, so that it does not turn to hate.

So that it does not turn to violence.

Does TFP think that East Asians are more or less racist than anyone else?

The Fairy Princess has been seeing quite a bit in the press lately about a lady who tried to shed her own skin – literally – in search of another. While TFP is fascinated by this, there are plenty of people writing about it, so she does not feel the need, and also – she is not African American – but she has enjoyed reading the many points of view, and she is reminded every time that she reads one of the articles of something she firmly believes:

She wishes Rachel Dolezal much luck in her new career – whatever that may be – as she has now stepped down from her leadership at the Spokane, WA NAACP, and at the same time, cannot help thinking…

“Thanks for not choosing to try and go Asian, Ms. Dolezal, because we have been #EmmaStoned enough lately.“

And we’ve been Swinton-ed, and Johannson-ed. There is a whole lotta co-opting going on in Hollywoodland at the moment.

TFP cares about Diversity – she is on and on about it all the time, and for the most part, she speaks, in her blog, about those who are underrepresented in roles, even when those roles are written for people with their particular heritage in mind.

She does that a lot. Which is sad.

TFP decided THIS blog, she wanted to talk about another kind of Diversity – she wants to talk today about…wait for it – BIODIVERSITY.

“Ecological Biodiversity is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities and habitats. In essence, it’s the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment. The forests of Maine differ from the forests of Colorado by the types of species found in both ecosystems, as well as the temperature and rainfall. These two seemingly similar ecosystems have a lot of differences that make them both special.” – Natural Wildlife Federation

TFP is fascinated by nature and all it’s many forms. She has a multi-ethnic background that includes various countries, and she has visited them all – except Wales – she has seen the differences throughout the years in the landscape that man has wrought. Oftentimes not for the better.

told her he was producing a documentary about wild wolves in the lower 48 States of America, she said she would do anything she could to help.

Because having seen this video about trophic cascade:

she could see that wolves are a vital part of our ecosystem.

She has also never been asked to help fund anything that was not, at it’s most basic, a vanity project.

This documentary and it’s ambitions did not strike TFP as a vanity project. This is a time sensitive project that is of utmost importance to help draw attention to the importance of conservation and acceptance of wild creatures. The Wild Wolves are under attack, they need help – and they need it now.

Alexandre Manning (Zoolander) andJosh Burrow (Captain Morgan, The Crimson Mask) joined us, and what we came up with is the video you will see below.

OPERATION WOLF DOCUMENTARY hopes to have the same impact on how the public views Wild Wolves as BLACKFISH did on how the public views Orcas in captivity.

The Wild Wolves are fighting a battle they know nothing about, but which will decimate their numbers until they are unable to be anything more than an oddity in the wild. The only ones that can help are humans. This documentary seems to be a step in the right direction.

The Fairy Princess watched THE TONYS this year with bated breath, and now, indeed – there has been a hit, a palpable hit in the lack of performers with API heritage – the blow dealt by Ms. RuthieAnn Miles!

This is not the first time Ms. Miles has been mentioned in this blog, the first was for her portrayal of Imelda Marcos in the hit show at the Public Theater, HERE LIES LOVE…

Then AVENUE Q had an anniversary, TFP and Ms. Miles were in the same group shot that TFP likes to call “The Ghosts of Christmas Eves Past”

The Fairy Princess wrote about Tilda Swinton being cast as an Ancient Tibetian…er, Ancient Tibetian ONE, and she thought she was finished with Hollywood Casting Idiocy for one week, but then she woke up and everyone was shoving the spirit of ALOHA down her throat and asking what she thought of it.

Not the ‘real’ Aloha spirit, the No Star/All Star vision of Hawaii that director Cameron Crowe put together, that ALOHA.

Have you heard about this movie, Oh my Pussycat Doll Nicole Sherzinger? What say you?

You were born in Hawaii, you are Native Hawaiian, Ukranian and Filipino….what do you think of this movie?

Then Cameron Crowe’s website asked people what they thought of ALOHA and when TFP took a gander, (mostly because she wanted to see people tell him off) most people on his website, who are fans of his, said that they loved it but wanted a Directors Cut.

Then she read a comment that said something like – in regards to Emma Stone playing a person of Asian/Pacific Islander heritage – Emma Stone’s casting was justified because the character was also supposed to be 1/2 Caucasian.

Which then prompted THIS thought in TFP‘s head –

Look, TFP has been to Hawaii probably 20 times in her life, mainly on her way to Australia to visit relatives. When she was young, visiting Hawaii via air travel to Oz meant that they locked you in a remote hangar in Oahu where you could SEE trees and so on, but you could not go out and run around in Hawaii. You had to sit and be decontaminated for 9 hours in a single hangar that did not even have a vending machine. It was awful.

Then, as an Adult, ok Adult-ish, she did get to go to Hawaii a few times, and she loved it – mainly because while walking around Hawaii, she was able to fit in.

Because you see, Dear Reader, TFP is what they would refer to in Hawaii as a Hapa.

That’s the meaning – originally it was to say ‘half’, and now it is more ‘at least part’ – it acknowledges the combination of peoples in a way that most APIs today find acceptable.

In fact, Hapas have become our own thing, and we willingly self acknowledge one another with this term, because the truth is, Diversity among Hapas is very broad and uniting under a term that is a shorthand is somewhat of a relief. No one has to go into “Well my Mom was…’ also, we can usually all tell, amongst ourselves, who falls into our group….not always, but often enough.

Perhaps the rabid fan of Cameron Crowe had never seen what a combination of Asian/Caucasian looks like – or did not realize that they have indeed seen what Hapa looks like, like apparently she has never viewed International Film Star, Keanu Reeves

so despite TFP having NO INTENTION of seeing ALOHA (because it garnered a WHOPPING ZERO STARS and TFP does not waste her time on movies with no stars, she has a kid) she CAN speak about what a Hapa person looks like, to those who do not know – being that she IS one herself.

As a kind of a Public Service Announcement to those who believe Mixed Race folks always turn out blindingly Caucasian.

(Looking at YOU, Cameron Crowe)

TFP is Asian and Caucasian and that combination begets a certain look, and the reason this is ‘a thing’ today is because one of the main characters in the film ALOHA is being played by a Caucasian woman who self-identifies as a Hapa from Hawaii within the context of the film.

Perhaps Mr. Crowe and his rabid fan are just…living in someplace other than Hawaii or the United States of America in general, but when Asian and Caucasian genes collide, there is a general look to their descendants.

Which is why, when she was in Hawaii, TFP often was given a ‘locals’ price as opposed to a tourist’s price – WHY?

Why would they do that – because to Hawaiians, Hapas are an identifiable group.

Hawaiians see Hapas – and the first part of representation and owning ones identity, is when people who do not know you, see and acknowledge you for who you are – Hapas are people who have a foot in more than one genetic pool.

As many Americans have not quite caught up to the Hawaiians in this regard, TFP felt very comfortable in Hawaii – no explanations were required anywhere she went – and she got the ‘locals’ price, which was great!

Now, pointing out that there is a ‘look’ to a particular group is not a racist thing to do, it is an acknowledgment – acknowledging that there is a genetic combination that happens is not a belittlement of a people. It just is.

A Punnett square was devised to give the potential outcome of genetic inheritance based on Dominant and Recessive traits. The darker the ‘trait’, the more likely that it would be dominant. One parent with black hair, one parent with blonde hair, the child will generally have darker hair than the blonde parent. One parent with blue eyes, one parent with brown eyes, the child will likely have brown eyes, or perhaps hazel, but blue would be highly unlikely unless the parent with brown eyes has a blue eyed gene within them that may/may not combine.

Oh heck – look at this photo, TFP, who is 4/8 Irish and 1/8 Welsh, and 3/8 Chinese does NOT have Blue Eyes.

TFP’s father had bright as the sky blue eyes and her Mother has deep deep brown eyes, did TFP get blue eyes? Nope. Here she is, not very Asian at all genetically, and yet – hazel eyes. Why?

Punnett Square Crazy 8 Ball says because that is what all signs point to. Dominant traits.

Now, TFP‘s Nieces, who are some sort of a 1/16 th Chinese, DO have blue eyes and blonde hair – and that coincides with what that Punnett Square graphic demonstrates above. Simply put, one has to have the least amount of dominant traits to achieve blonde hair and blue eyes – especially in those of Asian descent. They are BEYOND cute. Seriously, so cute. Can’t post photos, someone would steal them – that cute.

Blonde Asians happen – they happen in TFP‘s family – but only after the 3rd to 4th generational mix.

TFP can tell you – her Maternal Grandfather was fully Chinese and born in Australia. Her Maternal Grandmother was Chinese and Welsh and born in Australia. None of their children married Asians of any kind. Therefore their grandchildren were all less than half Chinese. Of those 8 Grandchildren, one was blonde. His Father was Blonde and of English descent. Out of those 3 siblings, there was ONE count that again – ONE Blonde. He was 5/8 Caucasian and 3/8 Asian and he was, yes, a blonde child.

However had TFP‘s Grandmother been 100 per cent Chinese heritage – that one blonde first cousin would not have been blonde. He would have had darker hair.

OF COURSE THERE CAN BE EXCEPTIONS – DON”T SEND PHOTOS TO PROVE YOUR CHILD IS THE MIRACULOUS SECOND COMING OF WHITE WALKER ASIANS – however beautifulthe exception, they do not the ‘rule’ make.

The scientific rule is – dominant traits are going to be more present than recessive.

Do recessive traits dominate in certain countries? Of course! In Europe, in Ireland, in the Netherlands and surrounding parts of the world, there is a ton of people with blonde hair and blue eyes – and of course, their diaspora has moved their genetics around to the point where someone can hail from a country where, genetically, their ancestors did not originate but where their light features have dominated to the extent that they go forward as representatives of what ‘their’ country looks like.

Some of the hottest people on the planet are indeed blonde – however being universally admired as attractive for these traits does not make them the ONLY people on the planet. It does not make them the only people in Hawaii either – and that IS the point. Hawaii is ethnically diverse – only 26.6% of the population is strictly Caucasian, according to the Government.

There is a wide range of Hapa Actresses out there who could represent the Great State of Hawaii’s diversity and match the character description of a 20 something fighter pilot who is a female 1/4 Native Hawaiian, 1/4 Chinese, 1/2 Caucasian….. TFP is not saying they have to be exactly the ethnic makeup of the character, percentage-wise – but they should be able to be believed as a woman who is essentially 1/2 Asian/NativeHawaiian and 1/2 Caucasian. In TFP‘s opinion both as a Hapa and as a moviegoer – this is the way to make the film credible.

Had Director Cameron Crowe had cast any of those Actresses, or he had simply gone to Hawaii and done a ‘Local” Casting and found someone at say, the Hawaii International Film Festival, which highlights films about Hawaii as well as other festival-type films, TFP would have gone and seen ALOHA.

Even if there were the pre-existing condition of ZERO stars.

Because for a director to care enough about his self penned screenplay to set up genetic structures for a character, so he could then cast accordingly, that would be enough to earn TFP’s ticket dollar. She would go to see what he had done.That was not Cameron Crowe’s decision – after months of self-admitted research and field trips to Hawaii, after mixing with the locals and indeed, some Native Hawaiians, Mr. Crowe decided that this was what a Hapa woman in modern day Hawaii looks like:

And that makes TFP, as a Hapa, and as a HUMAN being kinda like…

Because the way the character of Alison Ng is described – specifically – 1/4 Native Hawaiian, 1/4 Chinese, and 1/2 Caucasian is a choice that Mr. Crowe made as a Screenwriter and then chose to ignore as a Director.

The most infuriating part about this whole situation is that there was no need to label Emma Stone’s Alison Ng as Hapa. She could have had another last name, but been born in Hawaii. She could have been a cousin of Bette Midler. They could have said she has a Stepfather, they could have just said she was adopted, but NO – they GAVE HER ETHNICITY to further some plot point about assimilation and land co-option and then they IGNORED IT!

They erased what a ‘real’ Alison Ng would have looked liked because they wanted to cast Emma Stone. You want to cast Emma Stone and her delightful perkiness – go ahead, you are Cameron Crowe – you get to say anything, right?

No, you do not get to say that anyone gets to play Hapa – not everyone can be that lucky.

Let TFP put it this way – would you cast Emma Stone to play a person who was 1/4 African, 1/4 Creole, and 1/2 Caucasian?

Probably not.

This is the same thing, and while TFP is beyond caring about this bad movie, she is not past being furious at the disregard that underrepresented peoples are given in a film that is supposed to be, in part, about underrepresented peoples!

And may we talk for one moment to Ms. Emma Stone, gliding along into a role where her character gleefully states that she (the character) is 1/4 Native Hawaiian and 1/4 Chinese…

Ms. Stone, how, as an Actress can you spout off an ethnicity, as a character, without fully considering that the person you are to inhabit has struggles based on heritage and co-option that you, as a Non-Native Hawaiian and Non- Asian, have absolutely no cultural touchstone for?

Which is, from all reports, what the movie is supposed to actually be about – well, kinda, well…that is the backdrop isn’t it? Land grabs and erasure of a Native Peoples while also having assimilation – do you really feel that you, as a person of no Asian heritage and no Pacific Islander heritage could bring authenticity to that aspect of the character?

You are completely convinced that in your portrayal of a Hapa woman, you brought more to the role than any of the Actresses listed above could have done?

Well, we all look forward to your portrayal of other ethnic women – perhaps Imelda Marcos is next on the list?

Or the Anna May Wong biopic that has been floating around forever?

TFP is sure, with Cameron Crowe’s great love of other cultures that is his going to sign up to direct the remake of the classic film, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA – and you know what?

THERE IS PROBABLY A PART IN IT FOR YOU!

You could play the Bride from China with the Green Eyes!

TFP cannot WAIT!

Not to mention how excited Kim Catrall seems to be at the prospect!

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, TM and Copyright (c)20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.

In all seriousness, Ms. Stone – TFP thinks you should have stood up for yourself a bit more – and should have gone to the myopic director and said “You know, this doesn’t really sit right, playing a Eurasian woman – we are not in the 1940’s any more – can’t she just be from Hawaii? Does she have to be Native? Could she maybe have an Asian Stepfather or something that would give her the last name Ng?”

Because honestly, Ms. Stone – with all your alerting the media to causes with your Ex, you probably know that taking this part as written, was not the right thing to do. But you did it anyway.

TFP is hugely disgruntled that Ms. Emma Stone, who usually chooses wisely and well, dropped the ball here.

Bad Emma Stone!

There are those who think this is not a big deal – we disagree. It is a big deal – because anytime an Ethnic group is displaced from the visual landscape, a landscape upon which they are meant by actual population to be seen, it is a big deal. It is a HUGE deal.

If after reading this, or any of the other TFP posts about the importance of Diversity, about the intrinsic value of learning to see and thus value other people, people who are all around, but never acknowledged in Hollywoodland…which bleeds into not being respected and acknowledged in real life, IF YOU STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL well then…

For those who like to think “oh well, now they have learned and will not do this again’- think again – Director Cameron Crowe and his ethnic tomfoolery is here to stay- his new pilot has a blonde lady with a Chinese surname and a Native American playing a Native Hawaiian!

(Do not even go there with the Ice Bridge – WHY does a Native American have to play a Native Hawaiian? Can’t they just change the character to BE Native American and give Native American’s a nice lead on the small screen?)

So there’s that.

All right – for crimes of representation against Hapa people, specifically those with Native Hawaiian ancestry, TFP sentences Cameron Crowe and Emma Stone to FIFTY Whacks of the Wand – not only is this a badly reviewed movie, but it is a movie that erases the heritage of mixed raced people from the big screen.